Cotton Mather est né le 12 février 1663.
Cotton Mather était un théologien et écrivain puritain né en 1663 à Boston, dans la colonie de la baie du Massachusetts. Il est surtout connu pour son rôle de figure influente dans la chasse aux sorcières de Salem en 1692, où plusieurs personnes ont été accusées de pratiquer la sorcellerie et exécutées. Mather a écrit de nombreux ouvrages théologiques et historiques, et a également été un défenseur de l'éducation et de la science. Sa célébrité repose en grande partie sur son rôle dans les événements de Salem, ainsi que sur son influence dans la vie intellectuelle et religieuse de la Nouvelle-Angleterre coloniale. Sa réputation a été sujette à controverses, certains le considérant comme un héros religieux et d'autres le critiquant pour ses méthodes radicales et sa participation à la chasse aux sorcières.
Cotton Mather was born on February 12, 1663 in Boston, Massachusetts, into a prominent Puritan family. He was the son of Increase Mather, a well-known minister and political figure, and grandson of John Cotton, one of the leading ministers in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Cotton Mather was a precocious child and showed early signs of intelligence and piety. He began his formal education at the age of 12 and went on to graduate from Harvard College at the age of 16. After completing his studies, Mather followed in his father's footsteps and became a minister, serving at the North Church in Boston. Mather was a prolific writer and published over 450 works on a wide range of topics, including theology, science, history, and medicine. He is perhaps best known for his role in the Salem witch trials of 1692, where he played a significant role in promoting the hysteria that led to the execution of 20 people accused of witchcraft. Mather later expressed regret for his part in the trials and wrote a book defending his actions, but the episode tarnished his reputation for the rest of his life. Despite this controversy, Mather continued to be a prominent figure in colonial America and was involved in many important social and political issues. He was a strong advocate for education and helped establish the first public school in Boston. He also played a key role in the smallpox inoculation controversy, advocating for the use of inoculation to prevent the spread of the disease. Mather was a complex figure, admired by some for his intellect and accomplishments, but criticized by others for his role in the witch trials and his sometimes controversial beliefs. Cotton Mather died on February 13, 1728, leaving behind a complicated legacy that continues to be debated by historians and scholars to this day. He is remembered as a prominent figure in colonial America, known for his intellect, his writings, and his controversial role in the Salem witch trials.
Cotton Mather, célèbre pasteur puritain et écrivain américain du XVIIe siècle, est né en 1663 à Boston. Il est le fils de Increase Mather, lui-même pasteur et président de l'Université Harvard, et d'Anne Cotton. Cotton Mather a épousé Abigail Philips en 1686, avec qui il a eu neuf enfants. Il est le père de Samuel Mather, Timothy Mather, Nathanael Mather, Josiah Mather, Paul Mather, Thomas Mather, Eleazar Mather, John Cotton Mather, et Jerh Doe, dont la plupart ont suivi la voie de leur père en devenant pasteurs ou écrivains. Cotton Mather est connu pour ses œuvres religieuses, notamment son rôle dans les procès pour sorcellerie de Salem en 1692, ainsi que pour ses efforts en matière d'éducation et de médecine. Sa lignée familiale, empreinte de piété et d'intellect, a laissé une empreinte durable sur l'histoire coloniale américaine.
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